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Cruising Away To The Next Round…Its Chelsea 4 Brentford 0

Juan Mata fired a clinical opening goal after 54 minutes and Oscar, who hit the outside of a post in the first half, tucked in his second goal in four days after 68 minutes. Mata was the provider for Lampard’s 199th Chelsea goal before Terry headed in an 81st-minute fourth as last season’s Champions League winners stayed on course for a fifth FA Cup triumph in seven seasons.

After a troubled spell of three wins in 10 games, interim boss Rafael Benitez has now steered the Blues to three successive victories. There were reminders of Chelsea’s managerial past throughout; the 16th-minute ovation for Roberto Di Matteo and another former Blues boss present in Avram Grant.

Terry has been troubled by a knee injury since November and five times he has been an unused substitute under the Spaniard, including for Thursday’s 1-0 Europa League win at Sparta Prague. The 32-year-old made just his third start under the interim boss as one of six changes today, while Victor Moses and David Luiz were back in the starting lineup for the Blues, as both were back from injury/international duty to add to the depth of the squad.

The visitors had the first effort on goal as Forshaw shot wide across Petr Cech before Bees captain Jonathan Douglas tried to spark an attack and was caught on the ankle by a late and high tackle by Gary Cahill. Victor Moses, returning following his role in Nigeria’s African Nations Cup win, was lively for Chelsea and darted round on the right before pulling a ball back for Lampard, who mis-kicked in a crowded area. A follow-up Oscar effort was blocked.

Lampard, then again sliced an simple effort wide. And a Mata cross from the right was just beyond the outstretched leg of Demba Ba, who was playing wearing a protective mask following the broken nose he sustained at Newcastle. Oscar then struck the post after 26 minutes following the creativity from Moses and Mata.

Marcello Trotta had the ball in Chelsea’s net after 39 minutes, but referee Neil Swarbrick had already blown for a Luiz foul on Forshaw, whose subsequent free-kick hit the wall. Chelsea should have gone in front when Branislav Ivanovic found an unmarked Lampard in the box, but again the midfielder’s usually-clinical finish deserted him.

Fernando Torres spent the match sidelined as an unused substitute, but he was not entirely ignored. “We want Torres” came the chants from the visiting support as the off-form Spaniard warmed up in front of them, even knowing his only strike in his last 13 appearances came at Griffin Park seven minutes from time which forced the replay.

Ba was unable to convert after Simon Moore saved Ivanovic’s header from Oscar’s cross as Chelsea resumed at pace and on the attack. It was the direct route which produced a result as Ba challenged Harlee Dean to meet Cech’s long clearance and the ball fell for Mata, whose drilled a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner from 20 yards.

Forrester replaced Trotta immediately following the goal and Brentford looked to the winger to produce something. Supply was in short demand as Chelsea continued to dominate possession, before going 2-0 up after 68 minutes. Oscar, who scored the winner in Prague on Thursday, met an Ivanovic cross from the right with a back flick which deflected off a defender to go by Moore.

Three minutes later it was 3-0, with Lampard finally finding the target!! Mata made it, dashing down the left side and cutting back for Lampard to sidefoot his traditional volley in. Chelsea sensed the opportunity for more goals and took it when Oscar’s inswinging cross to the far post found Terry, who headed in from a narrow angle with Moore floundering.

Later, Luiz needlessly body-checked substitute Jake Reeves as Brentford finished beaten and bruised, with Chelsea advancing to the next round.

Chelsea can face Manchester United in a mouth-watering FA Cup quarter-final if both the clubs progress through their respective fifth-round ties. Chelsea must overcome Middlesbrough on 27 February with the winner taking on either United or Reading, who will face each other on Monday. We really need to avoid a draw with Boro, as the fixture list is already very crowded as is with the Europa League. Josh McEachran will not be available to play for Boro in that tie, so at least we can’t break him with a silly foul!! 🙂